Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1887-10-07

furling and unfurling their snowy folds
over Mount Moriah to the southwark,
but after time the blue haze grew
donser and vcilcd them from sight II
crcpt down the valleys and settled In
impcnctrable thickness, until Hank
Ghormloy, looking from his door, re-
marked to his wife:
al reckon them hills along the creek
is burnin' yet They wuz n pedlcr
come along the road last night said
they'd been burnin' fur week, and
the fire wuz a gittin' down to the creek
farms an doin' heap of hurt"
"lIit smells closcter m thet" re-
marked his daughter Nancy, raising
her fine gray eyes to the top of Mount
Moriah.
Then she, too, went to the door and
looked long and searchingly. Her
keen eyes were trained to measuring
distance and to piercing wells of vapor.
When she had finished her survey she
turned, saying: "Hit is closetcr. Hits
the tother side of Moriah, and it's
comm this way like all possessed"
"a Lord have mercy-we'n all"
mo, no; hit can't cross the creek m
the plowcd ground. Their hain't no
danger for we 'uns, but there's them
cz will suffer-" and white anguish
settled over her delicate face-still
pale from her long illness.
Jordan and Hayward were sitting in
the dark recess of the Raven Rocks
They had examined critically the rich
discovery of geographical history, but
their scientific interest being satisfied
they were drifting into another chan
mel of talk. The last three months had
passed turning point in the life of EACH
1t had impressed Jordan with deep
enthusiasm for his work-perhaps a
mocernized type of the martyr spirit
which has led in all ages to self immo-
lation upon sacriiicial affairs. The
great throbbing world held nothing
now which could lure him from his
rocky hills. And in the silent majesty
of the great eternal rocks Hayward
was touched by the sublimity of the
day and place until he told his story
with brief pathos to his friend.
at is lie to say am not hurt, and
don't care, for do care, and it hurts
decidedly. You see, its the first time
in my life that have been we'll
enough fixed in business to think of
such thing, and l was in dead
earnest, and she knew it from the first.
She couldn't help knowing. You
wouldn't believe that girl with an
angels face and the simplicity of q
child could be so full of vanity and
treachery as to make a jest of mans
highest feelings. She is rs heartless
as stone; she has no conception of feel
ing. l don't mean- Why, what on
earth?"
Both sprang simultaneously to their
feet In the doorway of the cavern,
the yelled sunlight turning her tawny
hair to gold, stood little girlish
figure, with torn dress and bare, bleed
ing feet.
80, Brother Jordan, an you other
feller ye must run fer yer lives, the
hill is atire an its comm round this
way like the wind. Shore, it is" she
cried Indignantly. "Come to the ledge
here and yo kin see fer yerselves the
roads cut off. Ye must go down
the rocks" They were incredulous,
bat both had sufficient faith in the girl 5
better knowledge of the hills to believe
her against appearances. They scram-
bled down the ledge to where their
horses were tied, painting and trembling
and paving the dried grass. They
could not see far around their own hill,
but over high boulder burst view of
the wall of lurid red and yellow flames,
rising in straight slender columns till n
current of upper air carried them over
head in drifts of pale, vapory smoke.
The red glow fell upon their faces. In
three minutes the sun was hidden; the
hill was swathed in a regal robe of
fiery grandeur. The heat was growing
intense; the smell of the blaze and its
ominous roar were upon them. The
weird, awful beauty of the scene held
the young men spellbound for second,
then they turned to their horses.
''Put your coats over their head s.
tic them by the sleeves" she screamed
above the cracklc and roar of the rush
ing flames. "Go down tho gully-it's
the only way. Pm afraid the horses
can't make it. Run-rm-for God's
sake hurry" Both led out their horses,
rearing and snorting, to the precipi-
tous edge of the chasm; both advanced
to put her on, but she waved them of.
"Save yourselves. Ill git down." and
she darted away, springing from rock
to rock with the agility of mountain
creature. Both young men plunged
after her, but rock rolled, throwing
the chestnut mare violently down the
chasm to depth that must have been
fatal. Her rider saved himself by a
spring, and then followed the girl.
Jordan rode madly after them, his
blinded horse pitching and stumbling,
until at length they reached the gray
ely bed of what had once been noun
tain stream, and paused to rest. Jor-
dan sprang from his saddle. Nancy,
my dear child, what did you run like
that for? fyou do not ride the rest of
the way / shall not go one step far
ther." For answer she turned and
pointed to the spot they had left! The
fire was already waving its long, vivid
plumes about the dark Raven Rocks,
and their hot breath was tanning the
awe-struck watchers. Their faces were
pale in its red, unearthly glow, the hot
breeze waved the girls tawny locks.
Jordan threw his arm around her
and forced her to mount the horse, and
they rushed on in the track of the
dried-up stream.
They could not tell how it happened.
They were within fifty feet of safety
and the horse must have stumbled, for
she was sure rider, but as they picked
her up and carried her to the safe
ground beyond the creek, they knew
that this time il was worse than before.
you're safe, any way" she muir
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